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DoD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom when their vehicle was hit on Jan. 31 by an improvised explosive device during convoy operations in Kirkuk, Iraq. Killed were:
Sgt. Eliu A. Miersandoval, 27, of San Clemente, Calif.
Cpl. Juan C. Cabralbanuelos, 25, of Emporia, Kan.
Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh, 19, of Taylor, Mich.
The soldiers were assigned to Company A, 4th Forward Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), Fort Hood, Texas.
The incident is under investigation.
(Let us keep the families and fellow soldiers of SGT Miersandoval, CPL Cabralbanuelos, and PFC McGeogh in our prayers).
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Narrow escape for US troops
Tuesday, February 3, 2004 (Tikrit):
US troops averted a roadside blast in Tikrit on Monday, after discovering a bomb just moments before a convoy drove through the area.
The convoy was on the way back from a memorial service for three army soldiers killed by a highway explosion two days earlier.
American soldiers guarding the access road leading to the 4th Infantry Division's downtown Tikrit headquarters spotted an Iraqi man setting the bomb 100 metres from the base's rear entrance.
The soldiers found the bomb, made from a 120mm mortar round and a remote-control detonator, hidden in a bush a few feet away, an army spokesman said.
Soldiers detained the man with another with him a few moments later. Both were held for questioning. The Iraqi who was seen planting the bomb identified himself to troops as a Tikrit firefighter.
The convoy from the memorial service arrived just as the Iraqis were captured, and minutes before explosives experts destroyed the bomb in place.
The memorial was for three mechanics attached to the 1-22 Infantry who were killed when a roadside bomb blew up their vehicle on the highway near Kirkuk on Saturday.
The discovery of roadside bombs is a daily occurrence across much of Iraq, and particularly in Saddam Hussein's hometown and former stronghold in the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. (AP)
Copyright 2004 Associated Press.
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Maintenance crews keep helos flying over Iraq
By Ward Sanderson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Monday, February 2, 2004
TIKRIT, Iraq — Black Hawk maintenance crews are feeling the stress of perilous flights by fewer birds, more flight hours and duct tape repairs.
“We’re literally flying them into the ground,” said Capt. Joe Sharrock of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment.
Soldiers said they are flying three times as many missions as normal, and with only half the fleet of Black Hawks they had during the first Gulf War. Sharrock said that shortage, combined with the challenge of scrounging parts, means that if all repairs were done by the book “all our aircraft would be grounded.”
Maj. Scot Arey, the operations officer for the battalion, said his Black Hawks would see 350 flight hours per month back home at Fort Hood, Texas. In their first month in the Middle East, they flew 1,500. That’s slowed, somewhat, to about 1,000 per month.
“They’re like rental cars,” said Sgt. 1st Class Warren Koslowski. “You’re doing three times as much work with half as many aircraft.”
So far, the battalion’s Black Hawks have flown some 10,000 hours of Operation Iraqi Freedom — with no crashes. Every time someone brought this up during a recent interview, the sergeant rapped on a table, adding, “Knock on wood.”
Other crews haven’t been as fortunate — though enemy fire, not disrepair, appears the major culprit. Six of the Army’s 290 Black Hawks in Iraq have gone down, all but one crash the result of apparent attacks, according to news reports and military
sources. A total of 15 helicopters of all types have gone down in or around Iraq; only four of those are believed to be accidental. The rest were caused by confirmed or suspected strikes.
Most recently an Army Kiowa Warrior helicopter crashed south of Mosul on Jan. 23, killing two pilots. Initial reports did not mention hostile fire. On Jan. 8, a Black Hawk medical transport crashed near Fallujah, killing nine soldiers. A witness has said a rocket hit the helicopter.
This weighs heavily on the minds of maintenance troops charged not only with keeping the birds fit and aloft, but also with flying them to make sure they’re safe.
Attending the funerals of other units’ helicopter crews “hits home,” Koslowski said. “It really does.” Sharrock lost a friend, a fellow captain, in a crash in early January.
It all reminds them of how important, and how dangerous, their own jobs can be.
“Everybody is out there flying low and fast, trying to keep ahead of the threat, and as a maintenance company, we have to do a lot of flights at altitude,” said Warrant Officer 2 William Noyer. “We have no choice.”
Flying high and slow is much more dangerous; the target is easier to hit than a streaking low-flying fighter. “A Black Hawk, though a very maneuverable aircraft, is completely slow compared to an F-16,” Noyer said.
Guerrillas specifically target Black Hawks, Sharrock said, because they carry personnel and supplies and are less likely to turn back to fire on insurgents than an attacked Apache.
“It’s a real score when they hit an aircraft,” Sharrock said. “It’s a real morale boost for them.”
The 2-4 AVN belongs to the 4th Infantry Division, whose aircraft fly from Baghdad to the Iranian border in a patch of Iraq the size of West Virginia. They’ve coped not only with broken choppers and enemy fire, but also the blast of summer heat and a landscape of ever-sprouting electrical wires to dodge.
The desert has not been kind.
“The first three months we were here, we went through an enormous amount of engines,” said Spc. Kenneth Back. Though the Black Hawk’s blower system works well, the sand was too much.
The natural heat — 140 degrees on the tarmac in summer, so hot the temperature gauge spun clear round to give an erroneously cool reading — combined with the engine’s own combustion.
“You know what happens when you heat up sand? You get glass,” Noyer said. “We’ve had some buildup. ... It’s a glass furnace.”
Despite all this, the soldiers of the 2-4 believe their unit’s hard work, sharp eyes and tenacity are the reasons for their clean crash record. “It’s all like a well-oiled machine,” Koslowski said. “It’s not to say some of the units that have had problems aren’t well oiled. But it’s an odds game.”
Without this tool-wielding machine, aviators like Arey wouldn’t get very far. “The maintenance guys are kind of the unsung heroes,” Arey said.
The 4th Infantry Division, the coalition military press office, the Department of the Army and the Pentagon all deferred questions on the Black Hawks’ use or did not reply. But the 2-4’s concerns about helicopter safety echo those of some senior military leaders.
“We don’t know what this operation tempo has done to our soldiers (and) to aviation,” Brig. Gen. E. J. Sinclair, commanding general of the Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., said at a recent symposium in Washington.
A press release by the Association of the United States Army, which sponsored the symposium, also quoted Lt. Gen. Richard Cody, Army deputy chief of staff for operations, estimating the cost of refitting the aviation fleet could top $1.6 billion.
At the same event, Col. Ray Woolery, Army project manager for aviation reset, said the biggest chore is coming up with all that repair money, actually buying parts, then finally installing them — all without slowing down flight operations.
In the meantime, the soldiers of 2-4 Aviation and their fellows make do.
“The old days of improvise, adapt and overcome,” Noyer said. “We deal with that on a daily basis.”
And the troops are working as hard as their helicopters. Some, like spent rubber-band props, are spinning down.
“Everyone here’s tired,” Koslowski said.
Noyer said his 2-year-old son points at the telephone back home and calls it “Da-Da.” Koslowski said several soldiers have gone through divorces since deploying. Six more in his platoon face serious marital problems. He called the feeling “cabin fever with bullets.”
“Are we patriotic? Of course we are,” Sharrock said. “We didn’t join to make money. A lot of these kids joined after 9/11.”
The captain said that when a maintenance soldier has that blank look in his eyes, it’s not from the ravages of combat. Those 1,000-yard stares come from something else.
“It’s from seeing too many wrenches,” he said.
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Many of you are sending me notes with all kinds of mail cut-off dates you are hearing from your soldiers. I double-checked with my high level contacts in Iraq and the official word on mail has not changed from the notice that I put into the 1-12-04 update. I am repeating that so you will know what the official word from 4ID HQ and their mail advisors are still saying on mail cut-off:
Some Official Guidance on Mail Cut-Off Dates:
Spoke w/ our G1. Theater recommended policy for mail cutoff for TF Ironhorse soldiers is 15 Feb for packages and 1 March for letters. That said, I'd follow the guidance on packages, but we'll have soldiers here until April/May, so letters beyond 1 March would be OK for them.
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And here are some words of wisdom from another key contact in Iraq, received just this Tuesday morning:
What I would recommend (being an old postal person myself) is that families do not
mail any more packages. Even if they are being told their soldier is only returning the end of March or beginning of April that includes about 2 weeks down in Kuwait. Once the unit departs Iraq, no mail will follow. Besides, there are enough PXs on the FOBs and in Kuwait that if someone really needs something, they can probably find it. The majority of our soldiers will begin redeploying the begining of March, so I would cut letter mail off by Feb.15th, especially important TAX, financial, or other documents. We all get an automatic extension for filing taxes so it would be better to hold onto those documents until we return instead of risk losing them in the
system. That's the best I can do for you. Don't know if it helps any.
Editor's Note: Remember, our April 1 date we use for the countdown is the average date - some will be home before then and some will be home after that date. As I've said before, I would not send valuable or irreplaceable items in packages as we close in on redeployment. Also, letters will be forwarded to their stateside address so don't cut off letter mail too soon - our soldiers still need to hear from you (but no irreplaceable contents). As always, your own common sense and instinct is what you should go with.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Germany:
3 February 1945 - D+243
It was believed that the enemy had withdrawn into the Siegfried defenses. Enemy resistance continued in Bleiaf until 1020 when the town was taken. No opposition was met as the towns of Oberascheid, Hatenfeld and Buchet were cleared.
The 8th Infantry continued the attack. The 3rd Battalion assaulted the town of Halenfeld shortly after first light. At 1400 the Battalion had secured the town with no resistance. Company K continued toward Buchet and by 1600, Buchet was cleared of enemy. Elements of the 3rd Battalion remaining in Halenfeld were relieved by the 1st Battalion of the 22nd Regiment and the entire 3rd Battalion was assembled in regimental reserve.
The 12th Infantry continued the assault against Bleialf with Companies E and F during the hours of darkness. Bleialf was entirely clear of enemy at 1015. Patrols advanced to the east and established contact with the 90th Infantry Division on the right and the 8th Infantry Regiment on the left.
The 22nd Infantry displaced forward to an assembly area in the vicinity of Ihrenbruck, closing at 1400. The 1st Battalion relieved elements of the 8th Infantry in Buchet. Reconnaissance and preparations were completed for the attack against the fortified town of Brandscheid.
Thanks to Philippe Cornil at www.revive-it.com.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) Our son called at 12:30 a.m. Monday morning, and the first words out of his mouth were "Go Patriots!" He grew up in Massachusetts, so he obviously cares about what they're doing these days. He is with 1-68 Armor, Charlie Company, and apparently his Cafe has been down for a few days, so he was not lucky enough to watch the game. Of course, my husband has it taped for him when he gets back. It was a very brief call, one of the shortest we've had in quite a while. The phone line went down. He usually calls back, but this time he must have said forget it...... He's amazed at the weather. Never did he think he would be wishing for hot weather over in Iraq! He tells us the mornings and evenings are very cold, and thanks to long johns, he's quite warm....
2) Our son, who is in the 1-10 Cav, called us at 3:30 in the morning with some bad news. A rocket hit the tent next to his (which was vacant, thank God) and the shrapnel flew into his tent. There were two other soldiers besides him in the tent. One of his buddies was killed, the other one seriously injured and he took a piece of shrapnel in the chest, but he is fine. He asked that we step up the prayers. He said they are so close to coming home, they don't need anything like this. We are very grieved for his buddy that was killed - he had a wife and 2 children. We continue to pray for their safety and protection. Our prayers and hearts go out to the soldier's family.
3) My son (1-10 CAV) was flying last night when the mortar attack occurred. It landed 200 meters from his tent! I am so thankful that he is OK but then so sad for those who lost loved ones or their loved ones were injured. My other son (101st) is supposedly in convoy headed to Kuwait to redeploy. I am counting the days when ALL our soldiers will be on USA soil again!
4) I got an e-mail from my son's LT, 204th FSB, Monday morning. Here is what she had to say about the OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE and SUPERBOWL. "I don't know if he told you about "Outback Night" yet. Evidentally, Outback Steakhouse donated steaks, shrimp, crablegs, rolls, cheesecake, etc for the soldiers here. It was probably the best food we have had yet. It definetely beat Christmas and Thanksgiving. I emailed my family about it because next time they can't decide where to go, I would recommend Outback just because of what they have done for us. No other restaurant to my knowledge has done anything like that. .....They had junk food for us yesterday in honor of Super Bowl. It was the first time I'd seen a pizza since I've been out here! They also had buffalo wings and stuff. The game didn't actually start until 2:00 in the morning over here. I don't know how many of the guys got up to watch it. It was rainy and stormy here last night, so I don't think that too many dragged themselves out of bed." (Editor's Note: Jan and I went to Outback Steakhouse on Friday night. When we thanked the server for what they had done for our troops and told him about our update service, he didn't charge us for our drinks and 'Bloomin' Onion', we only paid for our meal. Real class act - I salute Outback Steakhouse and their support of our troops in Iraq).
5) I mentioned to my husband, 2-8 IN, the idea I got from here about adopting a soldier so my husband said okay we can do that, but we have to make a compromise. We can't just adopt one soldier, we have to adopt all 11 single soldiers in his platoon. We will help them with rides, dinner at our house, etc. He also wants me to create posterboards for them that I can hang up in the barracks for them to see when they return back here.
6) I can't begin to tell you how excited I was to be able to listen to General Tommy R. Franks in Salina, KS on Jan. 29. What an honor! General Franks is the type of man whom you would love to have for your "next door neighbor." He is warm, humorous, and exudes the highest degree of patriotism, love for democracy, the United States, family, and especially our soldiers. Before he spoke, he asked that the American flag could be placed at the front of the stage. My brother and sister-in-law gave up their reception tickets so that my husband and I could meet General Franks. I told him that my son was with the C/1-44 ADA, and his words were, "I love your son." He signed my program with a message that read, "Cindy, Thank you for your patriotism and your support." I told General Franks that earlier during my son's deployment, we had a conversation about him. My son has never met him, but he told me that Gen. Franks is a "soldier's general." I told Gen. Franks of our conversation, and he replied that this compliment was the highest he could ever be paid. I will always remember this experience as one of the best in my lifetime. (Editor's Note: My cousin attended OCS with General Franks at Fort Sill in the mid 1960's - he, too, speaks very highly of the quality of General Franks).
7) Got a call last night from our son (1/68, Fort Carson). He said he knew we would be worried about him with Sunday's rocket attack on Balad. He was just calling to tell us he was okay. I know everyone reading this knows all about the heart-clench of hearing news reports and the long decompression time until we are reasonably certain that our soldier is okay. I have adopted your mantra - no news is good news, that plus "Let go and let God" help me through each day. My heart goes out to all those who have lost soldiers or who are watching their soldier deal with an injury. I hope the many prayers lifted up on your behalf help in some small measure.....Our son said their days are busy with packing and their nights busy with their "regular job." I smiled reading about the mother whose son is going to be in the convoy from Buqubah to Kuwait. Our son will be in a convoy from Balad. I share your concerns and my son gave me pretty much the same assurances your son did. Their commitment, strength and pride are without measure. I am working to be steadfast and loyal as well.
8) My son is a medic attached to 1/10 Cav. I knew from your updates that they were somewhere around Balad. I heard the news yesterday about the Anaconda rocket attack, and worried that he might be there. At 1:20 am, the phone rang. My son greeted me with, "I just wanted you to know I'm okay." He heard that the attack had made the news and knew I would be worried until I heard from him..... A rocket hit a tent a couple hundred yards behind the aid station. He said that no one was in the tent, but "shrapnel was everywhere". He heard the call for "Medic!", and was on the scene with his aid bag within a few seconds. He confirmed that one soldier was killed and said that some of the injured soldiers were on their way to Germany, but would be okay. He couldn't say any more than that. He sounded very tired, and said it had been a long night. It was almost 10:30 am their time when he called..... He was supposed to be transferred back to his assigned unit about a week ago, but the doctor requested that he be allowed to stay. As much as I worry about him, I am grateful that he was able to be right where he was needed. This is what he trained for and why he is there. My prayers go out to the injured soldiers and the family of the one who didn't make it.
9) We recently started a support group for military wives at our church. I know we're fast approaching redeployment, but even now with 60 days left, the group is turning out to be such a blessing! Other people might be interested in doing the same at their local church. We meet each Sunday during the Sunday school hour to discuss the book, "Heroes at Home", by Ellie Kay--easy read, and VERY PRACTICAL. The group is led by a retired Army soldier and his wife. We're mostly 4th ID and 1st Cav spouses and last week had a "special guest"--one of the husbands preparing to return to Iraq. I am the wife of a 4th ID Army Engineer who is serving with the 588th in Baqubah and will be returning in April. Some of the wives also have spouses returning in April, while others have spouses with the 1st Cavalry that have just deployed. We've only met 3 times and just started the book, but already I can tell how wonderful it is to have this group. Plus we share experiences from both the recently deployed side (1st CAV) and the soon to redeploy side (4th ID). I've enjoyed sharing my "growing" experiences encountered over the past year and my excitement as I eagerly await my husband's return. Most importantly, it's wonderful to see how God really does turn what seems like an awful situation (it was a tough year) into a real blessing (we've truly come SO FAR)! And now I think it's important to support the 1st Cavalry wives through their "tough" times and let them know that not only will they survive this year...but they will really LIVE this year as they deepen their faith and trust in God to pull them all the way through. So for anyone out there interested in continuing support for Iraqi Freedom part II...consider this idea as one way to help support the next phase of recently deployed military families. God bless the 4th ID and 1st CAV...and remember "The war's not over until all our soldiers come home"!
10) It was the amount of energy and enthusiasm you hear when a milestone is met and the next one is in view. Our son (555 14th EN NB - Fort Lewis) has spent months taking soldiers on convoys so that they may travel home to see their loved one, never taking the opportunity for himself. He called to say that they had completed the last R&R convoy and were looking down the road for the date in February when they'd head out toward Kuwait, and then on to home at long last! At the young age of 22 he'll leave the Army as a Sergeant and is totally excited about entering school and pursuing other avenues in life, but is the first to say that without the structure, training, and drive taught by the military he wouldn't be ready for the challenge. Home is Idaho and he'll head back this way as soon as he can.....
11) I received an e-mail from my son (HHC 1-22) on Saturday afternoon with some bad news. He knew all three soldiers killed Saturday in the roadside bombing incident. He was good friends with two of the soldiers. I ache so bad for these young soldiers and their families. I have included his e-mail for you. Keep these soldiers and their families, and all of our soldiers and their families in your prayers....
"Dad, Well, today was not a good day. The day is still not over, but the first part was very bad. Three of our mechanics died. I can't say the place, but it's probably on the news already, so you can get the details from there. I knew two of the guys very well. For 3 years they have been fixing my Humvees. Even more than that, I knew them and their families. They both have a wife and kids. They were my friends, and I was actually going to stay in touch with them after we got back. I knew the female soldier also. She was a very good person. Anyway, now they are all gone to heaven. This I know. And why did it have to be them? I don't know... They were not "combat arms", they were mechanics. It should not have happened to them. But who am I to say what should and should not happen. It happened, and I have to live with it. I will be going to their memorial service on Monday to pay my respects. I hope they rest in peace. I will go on my misson tonight with them in heart and the bad guys in my mind. Love, Your Son
12) Finally, after 18 days a call from son in HHC, 3/66 AR! Connection was not very good. He says they are busy....but not with breaking down to come home. No replacement troops in sight yet. Says they are told to expect replacement troops sometime between 1 March and April. A big window!! ...... He says he is so busy he has not had time to get on the computer to check emails....more important things to do... like eat and sleep when he has free time. He says they did get the Super Bowl broadcast, but he fell asleep during the game! ..... I'd like to wish him a Happy Birthday, Son!! - turns 23 on February 7th.....
13) An email note from an A/1-10 CAV soldier to his aunt: "Hi, I hope this finds you in good health. Just an update here. I am getting very close to leaving Iraq and getting back to my family. It looks like I will be leaving around the first week of March after a very long year here. Would like to thank any and all who have been praying for me and the soldiers who have been deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom. The support we get from those back home has been an enormous help in keeping spirts as this has been a very difficult time. So far I have managed to avoid injury, but ask everybody to think of those here who will not be coming home. We have just
lost another soldier yesterday and there is now another family who will not be joining us upon our return to Fort Hood, TX. Keep the families and these soldiers in your prayers. While nobody wants to be over here, we do this for so many differant reasons. For our country, for the citizens here, for our fellow soldiers and most important to me, our families. I have been leading soldiers a long time now, and am pround to serve with them as they work for me. As a Platoon Sergeant it gives me a great feeling to be bringing all of my soldiers home to their families and loved ones. For me, I have three years until I retire from the military, and after 2 wars and
numerous lengthly deployments am ready to spend time as a husband and father to what i feel is the most wonderful woman and children in the world. This has been tough on them all and am so proud at how my wife has handled it and the kids too. She has managed the house and all 5 kids (and 1 dog). I am ready to spell her and help out again. Again, keep us in your prayers as I will all of you.
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Redeployment Tips
1) The best redeployment tip I can give for all spouses is to be proactive in seeking out and getting help early to deal with the return of your soldier. While the Army plans on conducting classes on both sides of the ocean for this redeployment it is essentially up to you to take the initiative to safeguard your family and your relationship. Seek help now and talk to someone, a counselor, a minister, anyone that can give you some sound, solid advice on how to deal with the wide range of emotions that you are feeling with this return. IT IS OK TO ASK FOR HELP. We so often think that we can do it on our own, but to be honest I think we are all a little terrified over this return, while it will be amazing it will also be difficult to reacquaint ourselves, especially if you have children. It will go from nothing to everything in a very short period of time. From what I have experienced with soldiers who have already come home the honeymoon phase is lasting about 2 months, then things start to get crazy. Get help when they get home and talk it all out, you may find you don't need help at all but you may find this is the one thing that has saved your relationship. What could it hurt? God bless all of you and your soldiers, and to all the Iron Ladies out there...
2) This is the first time that I'm writing to you. I read in the redeploying tips about the family that had a death in the family. We also lost a family member (my uncle). Our soldier was not one of the lucky ones to get a mid tour leave. He was upset, but I just wanted to let other family members know what he said. "I'm really sad but I'm glad that you told me. You know that I have grown up a lot since I have been gone." My advice is to remember that we as parents have sent boys/girls to war and they are now men and women. Just trust in your soldier that they can handle more than you think possible. Thank you for the updates and all of the information, as we live in an area of West Virginia that we can't get the local news. May God Bless Our Soldiers. Our soldier is in the National Guard with the 475th QM Co out of Beaver Falls, PA.
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